Your water heater, dehumidifiers and even your furnace should be checked before leaving for an end-of-summer vacation or long Labor Day weekend. (Chris M. Worrell, special to cleveland.com)

AVON LAKE AND OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Families throughout Northeast Ohio are preparing for end-of-summer vacations and the long Labor Day weekend.

Although packing lists, reservations and itineraries may seem like the most pressing concerns, failing to address issues around the home can lead to problems that affect the very place we live.

Fortunately, TruBlue Total House Care of Avon & Olmsted Falls is offering a number of pre-vacation tips.

Sandra Kirkwood, owner of the house care business, said many excited vacationers who are intent on making the most of every moment forget to even secure their homes completely.

Checking locks and hinges, tightening doorknobs and ensuring that fencing and gates are secured may seem like obvious steps, but area police blotters regularly reveal that many Northeast Ohioans fail to do so prior to periods away from home.

Those heading out for an epic adventure or a simple weekend away should also be sure to leave the impression that the home is actively occupied. Overgrown trees and shrubs, long grass, unkempt landscaping, overflowing gutters and debris are invitations for opportunistic criminals.

Kirkwood also recommends keeping a light on in the front portion of the house or using a timer for lights. Leaving a working vehicle in the driveway is likely to dissuade most miscreants.

The best possible prevention, however, may involve help from someone close to you.

“It’s best to have a neighbor or a friend or a family member you can trust to check in on the house,” noted Kirkwood. “You don’t want to have indicators that no one is in the house.”

A person watching over the residence can ensure that mail and newspapers do not pile up, check home mechanicals and appliances, deal with storm damage as best as possible, make sure packages don’t go missing and take the trash to the curb -- whether completely necessary or not.

Below are a number of other tips for those planning time away from home.

• Replace your furnace filter, if necessary, and turn your air conditioner up or off to save energy. Cleaning the coils on your air conditioner is also a good idea, and an annual HVAC inspection is a must for every homeowner.

• Empty your dehumidifiers and clean the filters.

• Check all plumbing for leaks and be sure drains are flowing freely. Be sure toilets, faucets and hoses are not dripping or running.

• Be sure your sump pump is in good working order. A sump pump battery backup is a worthwhile investment for many homeowners. If the pump has not been inspected by a technician recently, pre-vacation is as good a time as any.

• Look over your water heater. Check for puddles on the floor, or a full collection pan if you have a raised unit, and be alert for obvious signs of corrosion. If you plan to be gone for long periods, draining the water heater may be a good idea. Shutting off your water heater prior to vacation is typically a no-brainer for energy savings. Just remember to turn it on when you return -- or your next shower may remind you of that polar plunge you once contemplated.

• Check window glass and screens. A locked window is not much good if part of a pane is damaged or missing.

• Replace burned-out light bulbs. As a precautionary measure, install new lights in motion-sensing units if the bulbs have not been changed recently.

• Inspect your basement for signs of water intrusion and keep an eye out for settlement cracks and other indicators of foundation issues.

• Check the roof for missing or damaged shingles. A leaky roof provides a poor welcome home.

TruBlue Total House Care of Avon & Olmsted Falls serves not only those communities, but also others nearby, including North Olmsted and Westlake.

The company features handyman and certified maid services and focuses -- primarily though not exclusively -- on older residents and families that are too busy for general maintenance and cleaning.

For further information, call 440-990-8253.

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